Not So Fast, Ottawa: India must make clear that it can’t be business as usual as long as Canada panders to violent Khalistanis

Jaishankar is spot on saying what is happening in Canada cannot be normalised and the intimidation, threats and violence against Indian diplomats need to be called out. No country, including Western democracies, would tolerate vandalism of their embassies and posters being put up exhorting violence against specific diplomats. Yet, these are precisely the things the Indian mission in Canada has had to put up with, despite repeated complaints to Canadian authorities.

Canada’s Khalistan connection is not new, notwithstanding Justin Trudeau’s recent allegation – there is yet not a shred of evidence – of the involvement of Indian agents in the killing of known Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. In fact, it was the previous UPA government that had denied a visa to Canadian politician and Trudeau ally Jagmeet Singh in 2013 over the latter’s Khalistani connections. Note also that former Canadian PM Stephen Harper too had said that he did not see advocacy for a Sikh homeland in Punjab as a crime. So Canada has a history of pandering to Khalistanis.

The reality is extremist Sikhs in Canada have come to wield disproportionate influence over the Canadian political system because they are well organised, control important gurdwara finances, and can mobilise support for their favoured candidates.

This is why Khalistanis in Canada have been given a long rope for years. But New Delhi should stand firm and tell Ottawa that it can’t be business as usual as long as these extremist elements are given a free rein. Trudeau says he still wants good ties with India. But that’s like China saying it wants to mend fences with India despite encroaching on Indian territory. New Delhi must largely freeze out Ottawa and refuse to restart trade talks even if the latter offers.

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